The ACT government has thrown its full support behind the push for a national ban on the use of engineered stone, and says it will implement its own prohibition if the federal government doesn’t take action.
Key points:
- A Safe Work Australia report found engineered stone poses an ‘unacceptable risk to workers’ and should be banned
- The ACT government says its prepared to introduce its own ban if a national agreement isn’t reached
- The CFMEU is calling on retailers like Bunnings and IKEA to stop selling engineered stone products
State, territory and federal workplace ministers will meet in December to discuss the issue, with the implementation of a national ban to be a key focus.
ACT Workplace Safety Minister Mick Gentleman said he would be vocal about his support for an Australia-wide ban at that meeting.
“We shouldn’t have workers contracting potentially fatal diseases just by turning up to work,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Ensuring the physical safety of every worker in the ACT is critical and prohibitions on the importation and use of engineered stone is a necessary step toward making workplaces in Australia safer.”
It comes after a Safe Work Australia report recommended banning the product due to the ‘unacceptable risk to workers’ it poses.
“The use of all engineered stone should be prohibited,” the report states.
When engineered stone – a popular material often used for kitchen benches – is cut, it releases a fine silica dust which can harm the lungs if inhaled.
Its use has been linked to a surge in incurable lung disease among stonemasons. The most common is silicosis, which can be fatal in severe cases.
The Safe Work Australia report found engineered stone workers not only faced a greater risk of developing silicosis but also saw a faster disease progression and had a higher chance of death from the disease.
‘Killing workers right now’
Australia could be the first to ban the deadly product killing workers
The construction workers union, the CFMEU, said the slow response of governments across the country to better protect Australians was unacceptable.
“A ban on the importation, manufacture and use of engineered stone is absolutely necessary. There is no safe level of usage or exposure to this product when it’s cut,” CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith said.
“Engineered stone is killing workers right now in workplaces all across Australia.
“We know in New South Wales alone that one in four workers that is working with this product is contracting silicosis or another form of deadly dust disease.
“In all but the rarest of cases, that diagnosis is a death sentence.”
Following the release of Safe Work Australia’s report in August, workplace ministers met in October but failed to reach a consensus on the topic.
They instead agreed to reconvene in December to decide the fate of the product, after some states requested more time.
Mr Gentleman said the ACT was prepared to go it alone if a national ban wasn’t agreed on next month.
The NSW and South Australian governments have made similar commitments.
“We certainly would,” Mr Gentleman said.
“We think this material is incredibly dangerous – there is no recovery from silicosis, it is a terrible disease and we do need to protect our workers.
“If we need to, we will bring about a ban in the ACT.”
The ACT introduced stricter regulations for workplaces using engineered stone, including a ban on dry cutting, late last year. But Mr Gentleman acknowledged that, in light of the report, they did not go far enough.
‘Stop selling the product’
The CFMEU’s Mr Smith also took aim at companies still selling engineered stone products, including Bunnings and IKEA, labelling them “morally reprehensible”.
“They’re selling it knowing that these products are exposing workers and the community to a deadly dust,” Mr Smith said.
“We’ve written to Bunnings, we’ve written to IKEA, we’ve asked them to stop selling the product and highlighted what it’s doing to workers and the community.
“There is a mountain of evidence available to them and the fact that they continue to sell this product shows that they are putting their own profits ahead of the safety of workers and the safety of the community.
“We’re going to continue to protest against Bunnings and any other company that sells a product that’s killing our members.”
Bunnings director of merchandise Jen Tucker said the organisation was closely monitoring advice from government, adding that the limited range of engineered stone benchtops were pre-cut to size and installed by a specialist provider.
“We know that safety is a concern for the industry more broadly and something that the federal government is currently reviewing and is expected to coordinate new guidelines on shortly,” Ms Tucker said.
“We are supportive of new legislation as well as introduction of consistent standards.”
The ABC has also contacted IKEA Australia for comment.
The CFMEU has committed to implementing its own ban from July next year if there isn’t agreement among the federal, state and territory governments before that deadline.
(ABC)
